Experts say that waterborne infections could soon be consigned to history

Waterborne infectious diseases, which bring death and
illness to millions of people around the world, could largely be consigned
to history by 2015 if global health partnerships integrate their programmes,
according to Prof Alan Fenwick's article in today's edition of Science.

Prof Fenwick, of Imperial College London, argues that up to
seven neglected tropical diseases including river blindness could be
brought under control, with infection by some eliminated entirely,
if existing programmes increase their coverage.

In Africa some 500 million people need treatment to control diseases
such as disfiguring elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis), river blindness
(onchocerciasis), schistosomiasis, intestinal worms and the blinding
eye infection trachoma.

The donation of drugs by pharmaceutical companies, together with financial
donations from foundations, is already having a sizeable impact, with
numbers given treatment for these diseases increasing from virtually
zero in 1986 to between 20 and 80 million individuals annually in 2006.

More funding is required to convince decision makers of the benefits
of treatment, to improve health education material and to deliver the
drugs to those who need them. The cost can be as low as 25 pence per
person per year, and the impact would be rapid.

" The current situation in Africa is such that most people
living close to major rivers and lakes need not be subjected to the
waterborne
diseases that previously plagued them," writes Professor Fenwick.

_ The programmes to prevent death,
blindness and disfigurement have proved that they can work, and
by 2006 they are reaching ever
more people with donated or inexpensive drugs. The health of children
in areas that have been reached is improving, and they are gaining
a better start in life," he said.

Professor Fenwick leads the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative , which
is supported by a GBP20 million donation from the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation. The project aims to assist countries in sub Saharan
Africa to control schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths.

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